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How about some outdoor hockey, followed by a family ride home and a nice meal while watching the big Canada game on TV?

Randy Carlyle thought he could make that work for the extended Maple Leafs clan, including the Americans and Europeans. So the team turned its scheduled Friday-morning visit to the refurbished Greenwood Park rink in East End Toronto into a group experience. After delighting a few hundred fans — and working on many drills despite the smaller ice surface — the Leafs shed their skates, jumped on a bus and returned to the MasterCard Centre. Lunch was delivered so the Leafs could watch Canada-U.S. together.

“I just thought it would be a nice little team-bonding event after the outdoor stuff today,” coach Carlyle said. “It adds a little bit more to the day.

“It’s an exciting time for the Leafs to have two people (Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk) representing their country. It kind of tears at your heart that you want them to do well, but we are Canadians and I think we have to show our loyalty. I was born and raised a Canadian and that’s where my heart is today.”

Two hours before the game, Joffrey Lupul had a good vibe that Canada would prevail, even though he felt the U.S. had played better to date.

“Every time there is a big game on the world stage, Canada seems to beat the U.S. I’m really excited for Phil, JVR and (Nikolai Kulemin) playing for Russia. This is a great experience, something they’ll remember forever ... and I hope they lose.”

THE PAIN OF INJURIES

Lupul said the John Tavares knee injury, terrible as it was, should not affect the thinking of NHL players considering future high-profile tournaments. But he also acknowledges he doesn’t run a team with so much at stake on this side of the pond.

“From a player’s standpoint, if we were playing an NHL game, I think we could get hurt the same way,” Lupul said. “From an ownership or management standpoint, I think I’d certainly see their viewpoint. (Tavares) is their franchise player, one of the best in the league. Now he’s out for the season and they have obligations to try and make the playoffs and put their best players on the ice. So, I can certainly see the frustration.”

Carlyle was also trying to see both sides of the risk factor.

“There is always that (injury) concern, but it never comes to the forefront until it happens to somebody,” Carlyle said. “No one goes into that situation feeling they’ll lose a player for an extended period of time. Those are the consequences that do arise. That happens in tournaments and it’s not any different than coming out here today, if we had a player slip on the ice and hurt himself. Those are the things that happen in an active game played on a slippery surface where body contact is encouraged. Injuries are a big part of it.”

PICKING IT UP AGAIN

That’s three practice days under the Leafs’ belts with another planned Saturday. Then the team will take Sunday off and have three more workouts before the schedule resumes Thursday in Long Island.

Kulemin, whose Russian team was eliminated on Wednesday, was back in Toronto with a mandatory day off on Friday and will re-join the team on Saturday. Kessel and Van Riemsdyk will likely join the team no later than Tuesday.

“Now it’s about getting ready for Thursday,” Carlyle said. “The important thing on our plate is to make sure our club can pick up where it left off. We were playing at a very high level and now we’re expecting our team to take it to the next level to have success in the last 22 games.”

Loose leafs

Friday’s outdoor experience wasn’t quite the Winter Classic for the Leafs, with about 100,000 less people to watch. But it was a chance to connect with fans. “A lot of people in Toronto, unfortunately, do not get the chance to watch Leaf games and closed practices,” Lupul said. Added Carlyle: “You saw a lot of smiles on the faces, but I think a lot of the kids are happy because they got out of school.” ... Carlyle did his best to run a normal practice on Friday, despite a smaller ice surface and a nearly full team with all his assistant coaches. “Smaller than anticipated,” Carlyle said. “But it reminded you of the rinks we had growing up in the Sudbury area. There weren’t a lot of 200-by-85 feet rinks there.” ... There was one tense moment during practice on Friday when centre Dave Bolland twisted his feet trying to dance around a pylon. But he quickly untangled himself with no apparent damage to his ankle tendon ... “I’ve been in (Bolland’s) situation with different injuries where I’ve missed extended periods of time,” Lupul said. “Nothing comes back overnight, so I think the break was something of a blessing for him. Get a little extra rest and get some extra practice in.” ... During a head-to-head race to loose pucks, Trevor Smith beat perhaps the club’s swiftest skater in Mason Raymond ... Bantams from the local Ted Reeve Thunder minor hockey organization had a chance to work with Wendel Clark before the game. It made defenceman Jake Gardiner think of the chance he had to skate with fellow Minnesotan, and ex-Leaf and Wild forward Darby Hendrickson when he was little ... The hot Marlies take on the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday at Ricoh Coliseum at 3 p.m.

Maple Leafs David Clarkson is protected by the other "boys in blue" as he exited practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs do some sprint skating up the ice at Greenwood Park. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs defence man Morgan Rielly was glad to get up close and personal with the fans after practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Coach Randy Carlyle was under the scrutiny of the fans.
Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Maple Leafs fans were pumped to see their hockey heros.Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs goalie James Reimer pumps fists with the fans. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Toronto coach Randy Carlyle is asked for an autograph after he exited practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs Paul Ranger scores the winning goal during the penalty shot session of practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie James Reimer prepares to throw tuques into the crowd after practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs goalie James Reimer and Colton Orr( right) were all smiles after the practice at Greenwood Park.Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Maple Leafs fans were pumped to see their hockey heros.Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs Paul Ranger signs some autographs after practice.Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs line up to do some sprint skating up the ice at Greenwood Park. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Maple Leafs Cody Franson signs some autographs and has a "selfie" taken as he exited practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs goalie James Reimer was under close scrutiny of the adoring fans as they worked out at Greenwood Park. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs defence man Morgan Rielly was glad to get up close and personal with the fans after practice. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Leafs goalie James Reimer was under close scrutiny of the adoring fans as they worked out at Greenwood Park. Toronto Maple Leafs held an open outdoor practice at Greenwood Park in Toronto on Friday February 21, 2014. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency